KABUL, Afghanistan — The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) announced that over 2,700 hectares of land in Afghanistan’s Paktia province have been reforested as part of efforts to combat deforestation.
In a statement posted on X, the FAO said the reforestation project, launched in 2019 with support from the Global Environment Facility, has led to the planting of 400,000 saplings in Paktia over the past five years.
The agency also noted the establishment of 71 tree nurseries in the province during this period to ensure sustainable reforestation and to support local ecosystems.
Despite these efforts, deforestation remains a critical issue in Afghanistan. According to the FAO’s report last week, the country loses approximately 0.2 percent of its forested areas annually.
The agency said that in Khost province alone, 278 hectares of forest have been destroyed since 2000, out of an estimated 15,300 hectares. The loss of forest cover has raised concerns about environmental degradation, including soil erosion and reduced biodiversity, which threaten both local livelihoods and ecological stability.
The FAO emphasized the importance of continued reforestation and conservation efforts to mitigate the impact of deforestation and preserve Afghanistan’s natural resources for future generations.
